On Saturday, Milan became the stage for a significant gathering of Europe's far-right leaders, as the League and the Patriots for Europe group held a rally titled "Masters in Our Own Home." The event drew thousands of participants to Piazza Duomo, following a march through the city center led by a tractor symbolizing support for "Made in Italy" and League mayors wearing the tricolour sash.
Matteo Salvini, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and League leader, opened his speech by honoring Giacomo Bongiorni, a man beaten to death in Massa. "As a community, we must apologise to you, because you cannot die simply for reminding someone of good manners," Salvini said, also paying tribute to the League's founder Umberto Bossi, who passed away on 19 March.
Remigration and a Points-Based System
Salvini outlined a migration policy centered on the concept of "remigration" and a merit-based citizenship model. He clarified that remigration does not mean expelling everyone but rather treating residence permits and citizenship as acts of trust. "We guarantee you benefits and free healthcare, but if you make mistakes, as with the points-based driving licence, there will also be a points-based residence permit: after a number of mistakes you go back to your own country," he stated.
The League leader also emphasized prioritizing immigration from culturally similar countries. "We want to prioritise immigration from countries that are close to us in culture and values, to ensure genuine integration and not the chaos that serves the globalist left to pay workers less in factories," Salvini argued.
Energy Policy Contradictions
Salvini's address took a sharp turn toward criticism of the European Union's economic management. He rejected the prospect of new energy lockdowns and called for suspending Stability Pact rules to allow Italy to use its funds to support citizens in need. Most notably, he urged an end to sanctions on Russian gas, pointing to the United States as a model for resuming energy trade with Moscow. "If they do it in Washington, they must do it in Brussels as well," he declared, describing the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund as "a malevolent duo run by Martians."
This stance on Russian oil places Salvini at odds with the broader EU consensus and raises questions about the consistency of his nationalist rhetoric. The rally occurred amid ongoing investigations into pro-Russian disinformation campaigns targeting Ukraine, highlighting the complex geopolitical entanglements within Europe's far-right movements.
International Support and Criticism
The rally featured speeches from several European leaders belonging to Patriots for Europe, reinforcing a message of border protection. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš stated, "The Patriots represent a Europe in which borders are protected." Geert Wilders, founder of the Party for Freedom, condemned recent violence in Milan involving two Dutch citizens and called for a halt to immigration from Islamic countries. "Enough, not even one; they are criminals who want to follow sharia law," Wilders said.
Other speakers included France's Jordan Bardella, Spain's Santiago Abascal, and Austria's Udo Landbauer. Bardella framed the upcoming French presidential elections as a continental battle, saying, "A victory for the National Rally in France will not only be a French victory, but a victory for all the nations of Europe." Abascal criticized Spain's government for its mass regularisation of migrants, a policy that has drawn 43,000 applicants in its first three days. Landbauer expressed concern for Europe's cultural identity, describing the current situation as a threat to "the Europe that we all love, which is now in danger."
Counter-Protests and Clashes
Parallel to the Patriots' gathering, Milan saw high tensions as around five thousand counter-protesters marched, chanting "fascists out of Milan." They attempted to break through police cordons in Via Borgogna to reach Piazza Duomo. Police responded with water cannons after protesters threw firecrackers, smoke bombs, and bottles. The Antifa-led march later moved toward Piazza Medaglie d'Oro, with demonstrators denouncing the presence of the Patriots in the city.
The event underscores the deepening polarization within European societies over migration and national identity, even as leaders like Salvini navigate contradictions between their domestic agendas and international alliances.
